Brook Lopez scoring 38 points in leading the Nets to a stunning upset over the defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday was obviously wonderful news for the Nets. There was one byproduct of Lopez taking 28 shots against the Mavericks, however — one that will bear watching as Lopez continues to get stronger following his return from the broken foot that kept him out for the season’s first 32 games.

MarShon Brooks took only four shots in the game.

Lopez reclaiming his status as the Nets’ primary option in the halfcourt offense — with point guard Deron Williams being the second option — is probably going to mean fewer shots for Brooks, the rookie who has been the team’s second-leading scorer on the season to this point. And Nets coach Avery Johnson admits that will be an adjustment Brooks will have to handle.

“It is — and we talked to him about it during one of our timeouts (in Dallas),” Johnson said after the Nets practiced Thursday in advance of tonight’s game in Boston against the Celtics. “Because (Brooks) had this foggy look in his eyes, you know, like, ‘Coach is not getting me the ball!’

“But we had to keep him involved defensively (and) he’s got to continue to run the floor, because guys like Brooks and Gerald Green, we need them to get us fast break points.”

Brooks, who had six points (2-of-4 shooting from the floor), with two rebounds, three assists and two steals in his 34 minutes against Dallas, deflected any notion that his offense will suffer because of Lopez’s return.

“I’ll figure it out,” he said. “I’ll score somehow. But it is an adjustment. We’re playing a totally different way, a totally different style of play.”

And Lopez, too, is confident that he, Williams and Brooks can coexist and, in fact, thrive.

“No question. Being able to sit there and watch all those games from the sideline — just to see what (Brooks has been) able to do, no question made me all the more excited to get out there and play with him,” Lopez said. “And of course, Deron is Deron. These first three games have been interesting. I think it amazes me how great vision (Deron) can have on the floor, getting people the ball.”

Tonight’s game against the Celtics will be an important measuring stick for the new-look Nets.

Boston is not the same powerhouse Eastern Conference team it used to be, and reportedly, the Celtics have accepted that, and are now shopping point guard Rajon Rondo for a potential trade.

With the way the Nets have played on the road this season (8-12, compared with 3-13 at home) and the fact they have won their last three road games — against the Bulls, Knicks and Mavericks — a victory in TD Garden tonight wouldn’t be so surprising. And it would serve notice the Nets might have legitimate reason to believe they can contend for a playoff spot in the final two months of the season.

“I will say it’s an opportunity for us to see where we are compared to where we were the last time (against the Celtics), because we didn’t have (Kris) Humphries, Lopez or Deron, (and) that was Damion James’ game where he got injured and couldn’t play in the second half,” Johnson said.

NOTES: Williams (foot) and Humphries (calf) did not practice, but Johnson said they will play tonight. G Jordan Farmar (groin) is a game-time decision.